Benefits and financial support

If cancer, or another factor, affects how much you work or are earning, the following benefits might help:

• Employment and Support Allowance - for people under State Pension age who have an illness or disability that affects how much they can work.
• Universal Credit - for people under State Pension age who are either out of work, or on a low income.
• Jobseeker’s Allowance – for people who are unemployed, able to work and seeking work.

If you work for an employer and take time off sick, you may be able to get sick pay. If you do not get sick pay or your payments are going to end soon, your employer should give you a form called SSP1. The form can help you apply for other benefits.

Your employer can also support you in other ways during a cancer diagnosis and treatment. There are laws in place to stop discrimination and schemes to help both you and your employer during this time. Find out more in our information about work and cancer.

If you are self-employed, you will not get sick pay. But you can still apply for other benefits if you cannot work or your income decreases.

If you already get other benefits, such as Housing Benefit, get advice before applying for Universal Credit. These benefits will stop, and you may get less money if you apply. You can speak to our money advisers on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

You may be able to get a tax refund if you stop work or your income decreases. You should also check you are paying the correct amount of tax if your situation changes. Your employer may be able to organise this.

You can apply for a tax refund online at GOV.UK or contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on 0300 200 3300.

If cancer, or another long-term health condition or disability, affects your mobility or personal care needs, the following benefits might help.

If you are under State Pension age:

• Personal Independence Payment – for people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland who have problems with everyday tasks, getting around or both due to long-term health conditions or disability.
• Adult Disability Payment – for people living in Scotland who have problems with everyday tasks, getting around or both due to long-term health conditions or disability.

If you are State Pension age or over:

• Attendance Allowance – for people living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland who have personal care needs because of an illness or disability.
• Pension Age Disability Payment – for people living in Scotland who have personal care needs because of an illness or disability. 

If you have a disease or injury caused by a job, training scheme or training course:

• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

For some of these benefits, you need to show:

• how your condition affects you
• how often you are affected
• that you have problems looking after yourself.

You can use a diary to record how your condition affects you day to day. You can send your diary as supporting evidence along with your claim form. Other evidence could include reports or care plans from your GP, doctor, nurse or other healthcare professionals.

You may be able to get help to pay the following housing costs:

• Rent - if you get Universal Credit, you may be able to get an extra amount of money called a housing element or payment as part of your Universal Credit. Or you can claim Housing Benefit if you are State Pension age or you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing.
• Housing costs such as mortgage interest payments, energy bills, council tax or rates.

Travelling for medical appointments can be expensive if you are having regular treatment and tests. Find out more about help with transport and parking costs. This includes information about the following:

• Blue Badge Scheme – access to closer parking and some free parking for people with certain medical conditions, or who get certain benefits.
• Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme – travel costs refunds for people who have to go to hospital for planned tests or treatments, if you are on a low income, or if you or your partner gets certain benefits.
• Hospital parking.
• Patient Transport Services – help to get to and from hospital.
• General travel schemes and services.
• Road (vehicle) tax exemption.

Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment are the main benefits for carers. But being a carer may also mean you can get other help or payments as part of another type of benefit. If you are getting Universal Credit, you might be able to get the carer element, even if you do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment. And you may be able to apply for Carer’s Credit.

When you are dealing with benefits, you may come across lots of new words and not know what they mean. Some of these words are explained here.

If you need more information or support, you can call the Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00.